South African fan blowing a vuvuzela at the final draw for the 2010 World Cup

The vuvuzela came to international attention during the run-up to the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup and 2010 FIFA World Cup, both hosted in South Africa. The world football governing body, FIFA, expressed concerns that hooligans could use the instrument as a weapon and that businesses could place advertisements on vuvuzelas. However the South African Football Association (SAFA) made a presentation that vuvuzelas were essential for an authentic South African football experience,[2] and FIFA decided in July 2008 to allow vuvuzelas at Confederations Cup.[22] President of FIFA Sepp Blatter opposed banning the vuvuzela, saying "We should not try to Europeanise an African World Cup."[23] FIFA ultimately decided to allow the instrument for the 2010 World Cup as well,[24] except for vuvuzelas longer than one metre.[25]

Some football commentators, players, and international audiences argued against the vuvuzela during the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. During the match between United States and Italy, BBC Sport commentator Lee Dixon referred to the sounds as "quite irritating".[未記出處或無根據]

During the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Hyundai and a local South African advertising agency called Jupiter Drawing Room created the largest working vuvuzela in the world—114英尺（35米） long—on an unfinished flyover road in Cape Town.[26] The vuvuzela is powered by several air horns attached at the "mouthpiece" end, and it will be blown at the beginning of each of the World Cup matches.

Jordaan noted that "if there are grounds to do so, yes [they will be gotten rid of]" and that "if any land on the pitch in anger we will take action."[28]

During the event many competitors have criticised and complained about the noise caused by the vuvuzela horns, including France's Patrice Evra who blamed the horns for the team's poor performance.[28] He also claimed that the sound of the vuvuzelas away from the stadiums hampered the ability of the players to get their rest.[29] Other critics include Lionel Messi who complained that the sound of the vuvuzelas hampered communication among players on the pitch,[30] and broadcasting companies, who complained that commentators' voices were being drowned out by the sound.[29] Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo went on record to state that the sound of the vuvuzelas disturbed the teams' concentration.[31]

Others watching on television have complained that the ambient audio feed from the stadium only contains the sounds of the vuvuzelas and the natural sounds of people in the stands are drowned out.[32] A spokesperson for the ESPN network said it was taking steps to minimize the noise of the vuvuzelas on its broadcasts.[33] There are some that see their use during the performance of the national anthems as disrespectful.[34][35] Other critics have also noted that it is seen as disrespectful to be "dismissive of the cultures of the guest team supporters".[36]

During the opening ceremony the announcer had to ask fans using vuvuzelas to be quiet as he could not be heard.[37]

Television viewers in UK are being offered 45 minute mp3 download clips to cancel out the noise of the vuvuzelas during broadcast television matches by means of "active noise control".[38]

However other commentators have defended the vuvuzela as being an integral and unique part of South African football culture and say it adds to the atmosphere of the game.[39][40] BBC sports commentator Farayi Mungazi said the sound of the horn was the "recognised sound of football in South Africa" and is "absolutely essential for an authentic South African footballing experience". He also said there was no point in taking the world cup to Africa and then "trying to give it a European feel".[41] The Daily Telegraph's chief sports reporter Paul Kelso described critics of the vuvuzela as "killjoys" and said they should "stop moaning".[42]

In response to the criticism, President of FIFA Sepp Blatter commented, "I have always said that Africa has a different rhythm, a different sound. I don't see banning the music traditions of fans in their own country. Would you want to see a ban on the fan traditions in your country?"[43]

Vuvuzelas also began to be blown at other locations, leading to a ban by some shopping centres.[44] Some World Cup football players complained that they were being awoken in their hotel rooms by the instruments.[45] Demand for earplugs to protect from hearing loss during the World Cup[46] outstripped supply, with many pharmacies running out of stock. Neil van Schalkwyk, manufacturer of the plastic vuvuzela, began selling earplugs to fans.[47]

↑Clarke, Liz (June 6, 2010). "World Cup ready to open in South Africa and vuvuzelas will make plenty of noise". The Washington Post. 喺June 11, 2010搵到. several coaches and players called for its banning, saying the din made it impossible to communicate on the pitch. Others claimed the vuvuzela posed a health hazard, stood to overwhelm TV broadcasts and was annoying, to boot. Why play the beautiful game, detractors asked, amid such horrible noise?